Max McCaffrey, the former Duke receiver and the oldest son of Ed McCaffrey, will work out for the Broncos on Tuesday as part of the team’s local pro day for athletes from area high schools.

Max, a former Valor Christian standout, turned heads with his performance at Duke’s Pro Day last month, when he recorded a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and a 36-inch vertical jump.

Last season he led the Blue Devils with 52 catches, 643 receiving yards and five touchdowns to cap his four-year career with 117 receptions, 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Broncos’ recent re-signing of Jordan Norwood gives them six receivers heading into offseason workouts and training camp, with Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Bennie Fowler, Cody Latimer and Jordan Taylor all returning. Should Max impress again Tuesday, the Broncos could give him a shot to compete in training camp and even vie for a spot on the practice squad.

Ben Clarke, a former Chatfield High and University of Hawaii offensive lineman, is also scheduled to work out for the Broncos on Tuesday.

Clarke (6-foot-3, 305 pounds) played his first two collegiate seasons at center before shifting to left tackle for the last two. In 2015, he was named Hawaii’s MVP and was an honorable mention All-Mountain West selection for all four year seasons with the Rainbow Warriors.Read more…

In Gary Kubiak’s zone-blocking, stretch run offense, C.J. Anderson and company will be asked to do more — much more — and the Broncos’ receiver believes that could only work in his favor.

Why? More attention on the run game means more single coverage for him and his fellow receivers.

“It’s going to leave me one-on-one and probably open down the field a lot,” he said. “When everybody was saying they’re going to run the ball, I’m like, ‘I’m fine with that.'”

Thomas acknowledged that Kubiak’s offense brings back memories of the triple option he ran at Georgia Tech. In his final season, in 2009, the Yellow Jackets had a 1,200- and 1,400-yard back, while Thomas recorded 1,154 receiving yards on 46 catches.

Demaryius Thomas said one of the most difficult parts of the offseason was not being able to work out with his quarterback, Peyton Manning.

Thomas was a notable absence from Manning’s annual Duke workouts, which he attended the last three years. Receiver Emmanuel Sanders wasted little time shaking up the social media world in April when he used Photoshop to add Thomas in a post-workout photo.

Thomas chose to rehab his lingering left ankle injury, but he wavered back and forth with the decision.

“That was real tough, actually. At the time, my ankle was still bothering me. But also I wanted to go down and see what the new routes were and be with Peyton,” Thomas said. “I got so much love for Peyton.

For much of the offseason, Broncos coach Gary Kubiak and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison have been teachers, helping veterans and newcomers alike learn the new scheme and terminology.

Every few days they’ve added new installs to their practice regimen, with the expectation that players will spend their time away from the field studying the playbook. It’s a slow, meticulous process, but also a necessary one.

But Dennison faces an added challenge. Introducing a new offensive scheme to a new team in a new city can be difficult when you’re missing one of the biggest pieces of that offense.

Demaryius Thomas, the Broncos’ star receiver, chose to sit out the team’s offseason workouts for leverage in his negotiations on a long-term contract. The three-time Pro Bowler has been in touch regularly with receivers coach Tyke Tolbert, but he has yet to work with Dennison and run through the plays with the team.

“In one regard it is (difficult) and in another regard, you say ‘Hey, we’re only getting that much better’ because he’s a great player. We’re coaching the guys that are here,” Dennison said Wednesday. “He’s got to deal with what he’s got to deal with and everybody understands that. As far as where we’re going, we’re coaching the guys and those guys — the wideouts — have done a good job. When he gets here, I know he’ll do a good job. Just watching him on tape, he’s a fantastic player and I think he’ll pick it up. Everybody will help him and we’ll move on from there.”Read more…

With rookie Isaiah Burse now on the waiver wire, the Denver Broncos will have slot receiver Wes Welker serve as their primary punt returner Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

Welker has the most experience as he returned punts for the Miami Dolphins from 2004-06, and regularly for the New England Patriots from 2007-2009 and again in 2012. He had 10 punt returns for the Broncos last season.

New England lists three leading vote-getters: tight end Rob Gronkowski, kicker Stephen Gostkowski and special teamer Matt Slater.

Fan voting runs online at NFL.com through Dec. 15. The Pro Bowl players are determined by the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches. Each group’s vote counts one-third toward determining the 88 All-Star players who will be eligible for the Pro Bowl Draft. NFL players and coaches will cast their votes on Dec. 19.

The Pro Bowl players will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 23 and assigned to teams through a draft, the second year of the process of an “unconferenced” game. The game is set for Jan. 25, 2015, from the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

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He broke Brett Favre’s record for touchdown passes. He increased his career total to 510. No. 509 will be remembered. After Manning embarrassed himself by tripping on second down for a sack, he called the same play. Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas ran a corner route, screened the corner and kept his feet inbounds for the record.Read more…

Eric Decker spent four seasons in Denver after the Broncos drafted him in the third round of the 2010 draft, and he soon earned the starting job at wide receiver and became one of the most popular wideouts in the league. He compiled 222 receptions for 3,070 yards and 33 touchdowns during his time in the Mile High City, while averaging 86 catches and 12 touchdowns in his last two seasons, when Peyton Manning was his quarterback.

This past summer, he signed a five-year deal with the Jets, who ranked 31st in passing offense and 30th in total receiving yards in 2013, and whose quarterback is the young and inconsistent Geno Smith.

Decker recently spoke to New York Post columnist Steve Serby about his time in Denver, the transition from a working with a future Hall-of-Fame quarterback to one who’s still learning the ropes, his wife’s swag (Serby’s description, not mine), and even a prank by Manning that Decker will never forget. Here’s a snippet: Read more…

Kayvon Webster was limited in practice Monday. He and Ronnie Hillman became ill last Thursday, and didn’t travel home with the team from Dallas. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Running back Ronnie Hillman and cornerback Kayvon Webster were limited in the early portion of practice Monday, four days after not accompanying the team on its charter from Dallas because of an undisclosed medical issue.

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning reached his flash point in the second quarter. After a week of listening to Houston chatterbox D.J. Swearinger, who instigated a fight Thursday by throwing a punch at Demaryius Thomas, Manning had enough.Read more…

Paul Richardson returned to practice with the Seahawks on Monday, and said he’s comfortable playing at 178 pounds, 20 more than in college. (Karl Gehring, Denver Post file)

RENTON, Wash. — Receiver Paul Richardson timed the snap and raced past cornerback Richard Sherman on Monday. The pass was underthrown, but it provided a glimpse of why the Seahawks think so highly of the rookie from CU. Richardson returned to practice after dealing with a shoulder injury and said he expects to play Thursday against the Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, where he enjoyed success in college against CSU.

The Bronco newcomer has admitted repeatedly that he’s still getting acclimated with Denver’s system and playing alongside Peyton Manning. But on Monday, Sanders joined The Fan 104.3 in Denver and said that he’s noticed one considerable difference, among others, between Manning and his former quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger.

“I feel like Peyton is a far better leader, in terms of staying after practice, catching balls, wanting guys to get on the same page with him, things of that sort,” Sanders said. “This is the first time that I’ve had a quarterback that every single day after practice — no matter what his accolades, NFL MVP, Super Bowl ring — he keeps guys like me and [rookie receiver Cody] Latimer after practice. … He’s not one of those guys you’ve got to chase down. He’s going to be right in the same spot, ready to work, every single day. I just feel like that’s a difference from a mental standpoint.

“I’ve got so much love for Ben,” Sanders added. “At the same time, I’m not going to lie. I’m happy to be part of this organization and happy that Peyton is my quarterback.” Read more…

It was late after Super Bowl XLVIII and there were only two players remaining in the losing locker room — Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas and right guard Louis Vasquez.

Vasquez and his battered body is almost always the last one out. Thomas was struggling to dress because he couldn’t lift his left shoulder.

Asked specifically if he suffered a separated or dislocated shoulder during his Super Bowl record-setting, 13-catch-in-vain performance, Thomas said: “No, it didn’t pop out or anything. I don’t know what happened.”

I saw Thomas again the next morning at the team hotel. Again, his left shoulder was in noticeable pain as he winced while trying to roll a suitcase. No, he said, it wasn’t separated or dislocated.

Online and Twitter reports have since said Thomas had suffered a separated shoulder in the Super Bowl, and that the injury occurred while he was creamed by Seattle safety Kam Chancellor following a short completion on the Broncos’ third offensive play.

Team sources confirmed Wednesday what Thomas told me on two different occasions after the Super Bowl: He did not suffer a separated shoulder.

A popular and highly productive receiver in four seasons with the Broncos, Decker has agreed to terms on a five-year contract with the New York Jets. The deal averages about $7.3 million million per season.

“I’m very thankful for my four years in Denver,” Decker said late Wednesday night from New Jersey, where he finished dining with Jets coach Rex Ryan among others. “I think it’s one of the greatest cities to play in. Unfortunately, I never got an offer from the Broncos. Denver will always be a part of me but I’m excited about New York being my new community and starting a new chapter in my life. On top of all that, my wife’s expecting our baby any second.”

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns also had serious interest in Decker.

Decker averaged 86 catches and 12 touchdowns the past two seasons with Peyton Manning as his quarterback.

This should come as little surprise, considering the touchdown pass Peyton Manning threw to Demaryius Thomas to end the first half precisely broke Drew Brees’ passing record by one yard but still: Manning to Thomas was pretty much perfect on Sunday.

The quarterback threw six passes to Thomas, and Thomas caught all of them, including a near-perfect 63-yard touchdown pass. On the afternoon, Manning had a perfect 158.3 passer rating on throws to Thomas, according to Pro Football Focus.

Thomas finished the season with 92 receptions for 1,430 yards and 14 touchdowns, leading the team in each of those categories.

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Peyton Manning talks to Wes Welker, Eric Decker and Jacob Tamme in the second half against the Texans Sunday. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)

With 6:57 remaining in Sunday’s game in Houston, Peyton Manning threw a touchdown pass to receiver Eric Decker, the quarterback’s 50th of 2013. (He threw one more on the afternoon, ending the day with 51, a new NFL record.) The pass, initially ruled a catch, was reviewed, and upon review, officials upheld the initial ruling.

Five days later, though, Texans interim head coach Wade Phillips says otherwise. Phillips told Houston media Friday that he asked the NFL for clarification on the catch after the fact, and the league told him that upon further review, Decker’s reception shouldn’t have been ruled a catch because he was juggling the ball.

Eric Decker picks up a first down Sunday in front of Texans safety D.J. Swearinger. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)

For the past two games, the Broncos have been without receiver Wes Welker, who’s working his way back from a concussion and practiced Wednesday for the first time in weeks. With a chance that Welker may not play again until the playoffs, it’s time to take a look at how the Broncos replaced him — or at least attempted to — last week against Houston.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.